I, Athena, had a major role in The Odyssey. When Odysseus had come back home and realized that all of these men have been trying to court his wife Penelope. He was angered. I felt that Odysseus needed guidance in this part of his journey to try and get those men out of his house so that’s why I got myself involved in helping him. I knew that Odysseus just couldn’t show up at home and try and convince everyone that he is back and wants his house to himself now. He needed a disguise so that he had good way to get in the castle and show himself and defeat them. I decided to change him into a beggar. I changed him into that because beggars are poor and the castle will see to poor people. I gave him old wrinkly skin and a long white beard. He looked old, poor, and smelly that everyone in town could tell he was a beggar. I feel really bad that Odysseus has to be changed into someone he most definitely isn’t, but he would get murdered right off the bat if he came back in and tried to win over his throne. I wasn’t supposed to help Odysseus because he had betrayed the gods when he stole from the Cyclops, and he had eaten the cattle that he wasn’t supposed too. Odysseus was supposed to have never reached home, but because he had and the poor man had no chance without a god or goddess help, that’s why I wanted too. I had to beg my father Zeus, god of the sky, to let me. He was completely against it. When he took into consideration the fact that all of Odysseus’ men died and the prophecy from Hades that he was told that all of his men would die and all of these horrible things were going to happen, he allowed me to help him. I oversaw the rest of his journey until he reached Ithica, that’s where I come in. After I changed Odysseus into the beggar, it was time for him to make his journey to the castle. When he arrived at the castle he walked in and the most arrogant man, Antinuous, was making such rude comments to the beggar (Odysseus). That goes against what is said to be Greek Customs, you’re supposed to give everyone respect incase it is a god coming down to test you of your kindness. I just wanted to go and turn him into a fly, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t supposed to make myself noticeable. I had to let him make those comments no matter how much I wanted to do something to him. Odysseus had walked up to Penelope and she had given him food because she does that for all of the beggars who come into the castle. She has always been nice in that manner. When Odysseus had gotten his food all of the men were still making comments about his smell and how he shouldn’t even be sitting in the castle with his smell. I really wanted to say something now, but I wasn’t allowed. After they had eaten their meal, all of the men were being tested again to see who would be worthy enough to take Penelope’s hand in marriage. They had to shoot a bow through 12 rings and into the fence. All of them have failed to do this challenge. When Odysseus still disguised as the beggar asked to try, they surprisingly let him. He made it and everyone was in shock except Antinuous. I was so disgusted that he didn’t have a single thing to say to him. I gave him the signal and then he knew it was time to attack them. Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, conquered all of the men in the castle and not a single one was left to breath the air. I changed Odysseus back into who he really was after the battle to help him win Penelope over and prove it was truly Odysseus. I made him more muscular, taller, clean shave, and looking a lot younger. When Odysseus saw Penelope again she tested him by saying to her maid to bring her bed into the hallway so that he could sleep tonight. Odysseus had a fit because he made their bed around a tree that was in the land way before their castle was even built. He made their house solely on the placement of that tree. The roots were underneath the tiled floor the bed was impossible to move. At that moment Penelope knew that it was truly Odysseus and she ran over and hugged him and said “I’ll never doubt who you are again, it’s good to have you home.” I was so happy that they were able to come together again after 20 long years, and live for the next 20 years happy together. I was glad that I was able to do my job and do it well. I definitely gave Odysseus the right pathway to get Penelope back. I’m afraid without me he wouldn’t of been able to do so.
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